Why Are There ‘Italy Towels’ In Korea?

이태리타월 (itally Tower), What Is It?

It’s a rough cloth used in Korea to scrub off dead skin, and it is produced in red, green, yellow, and sky blue, depending on the dye. The name ‘Itay towel’ comes from the fact that the viscose rayon fibers used in the threads to make them were imported from Italy. It’s not because these towels are made in Italy.

Who Invented The Towel?

The Italian towel was invented by Kim Pil-gon of South Korea. The inventor, Kim Pil-gon (1932-2001), who ran a textile factory in Busan, South Korea, invented the towel after two years of research.
The rough texture suited Korean bathing habits and was perfect for scrubbing away dead skin. He registered the towel with the Korean Patent Office in 1966. The patent was revoked in 1976, and he made a fortune.

Korean-style Public Bathhouses Have A History Of Over 2000 Years, Dating Back To The Shilla Dynasty

Koreans have a tradition of visiting public bathhouses to scrub off dead skin. While the usage of public bathhouses seems to have decreased compared to the past, many still enjoy it. They either scrub off dead skin using Italy towels or get scrubbed by professional bathhouse attendants called “A|1|1/ (pronounced ‘Sesinsa)”.

Do People Still Use the Towels?

These days, there are many people who choose not to scrub their skin due to concerns about its negative effects. While using Italian towels for scrubbing can help remove dead skin cells, there are criticisms about it causing minor scratches. Many experts suggest that lightly rubbing with hands or a soft towel is preferable for most people.

Many celebrities, including Conan O’Brien, have also experienced 세신사 !

—

???? UoH has a personal assistant program for traveling in Korea, including reservations, rentals, and personal assistants. Feel free to email us at [email protected] for a quote and to find out how to proceed!